Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Doors to the newly-remodeled Wintergreen Arts Center will officially open to the public Saturday as the center marks the grand opening of its new downtown location.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
THE WINTERGREEN ARTS CENTER will hold its grand opening Saturday where festivities will include a “Just for Kids” event from noon-3 p.m. where kids can take a tour of the new center, enjoy a piece of cake and participate in art activities. That evening from 7-9 p.m. there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and premier of the new Barresi Financial Art Gallery featuring artwork by Tim Gagnon of Castle Hill. The newly-remodeled arts center is located at 149 State St. in Presque Isle. The studio, shown here, provides private nooks for drawing on a chalkboard or playing with the Katahdin Trust Flannel Board, child-sized tables and chairs, a children’s gallery with window seat and plenty of storage.
“When I first saw this building I said to my husband, ‘Someone ought to fix that building up,’ never thinking it would be me,” said Lara Cannon, executive director of the Wintergreen Arts Center. “Before we even set up at our former location at the Aroostook Centre Mall, I drew up a design for an arts center here and I drew it in this space. Those drawings were dated 2005, and I always thought that we belonged here.”
Located in the former Wight Furniture Building at 149 State St., the center offers art classes, performances, and other seasonal activities for both children and adults.
Tony Burgess and Glenn Capp purchased the two-story building last year and offered Wintergreen a 10-year lease. Under the arrangement, the arts center will not have to pay rent for 10 years, and the building’s owners will pay the utilities for the entire term of the lease. WGAC was, however, responsible for the restoration cost.
“We’ve raised more than $90,000 in donations and fund-raisers,” said Cannon. “When we started, our goal was to raise $100,000, but late last fall we found out that we needed to have a second egress, which we hadn’t budgeted for in our fund-raising, so we have to raise another $77,000. The total bill for this renovation is $140,000. We’re not done raising money.”
To comply with codes, a portion of the floor at the back of the building was cut out and a set of stairs was installed.
“When we were first offered the building, our biggest challenge was the parking. We didn’t know how we were going to accommodate the number of people we wanted to have come through,” said Cannon. “Now in addition to parking on the street, parents can park behind the building and come up the back stairs. Though we didn’t know we needed the second egress at the time, it’s truly a blessing in disguise. Parents and birthday party guests can park in behind, and the kids can come without having to cross the road or the railroad tracks. There’s enough parking to suit our needs.”
A loan by the Northern Maine Development Commission and the city of Presque Isle allowed Wintergreen to open on time, Cannon said, noting that the renovation was quite a daunting task.
“The building had been vacant for 10 years, so it was in rough shape,” she said. “We took it to the studs, and then redid everything through local contractors. It has a whole new electrical system, insulation, and all new plumbing.”
The new facility has several stations for both children and adults to enjoy.
“When you come in – off to the right – is the Barresi Financial Art Gallery. The company donated $8,000 through a matching fund which was great,” said Cannon. “Because of their generosity, we decided to name our art gallery after them. The gallery will provide local artists the opportunity to showcase their work. Each month will feature a different artist.”
The Citadel Café looks like an old-fashioned apothecary shop.
“We’re going to be selling coffee and treats,” Canon said. “We’ll also use that area for birthday parties which we do each weekend. Citadel is giving us $10,000 in free advertising.”
The TAMC Medical Staff raised $8,000 for WGAC, and has its name on a “PlayHouse” which can be used as a small stage for theatrical performances, a puppet show or when not in use a fully furnished children’s playhouse.
The Donald and Linda Zillman Poet’s Corner offers guests a place to sit comfortably while waiting for their children.
“When we were at the mall, we had a lot of Dads coming in on Saturdays to get their kids and they couldn’t fit in our small chairs,” said Cannon. “We needed a more comfortable place for them to be and that evolved into us needing a ‘sitting area.’ We’re going to have books here, too, so people can have their coffee and read while their kids are finishing up.”
The Zillmans contributed $5,000 to the project.
The Davis Family Foundation donated $12,500 which was used to help construct the staircase, while the Maine Arts Commission contributed $25,000 enabling the arts center to be handicapped accessible.
“That includes our bathroom and our doors, which open mechanically,” said Cannon. “Their contribution was great because we couldn’t get any grants unless we were fully accessible. They were our biggest donor which prompted others to give, as well.”
The studio provides private nooks for drawing on a chalkboard or playing with the Katahdin Trust Flannel Board, child-sized tables and chairs, a children’s gallery with window seat and plenty of storage. The art studio is fully furnished with an adult and child’s utility sink, dishwasher, four easels, a drying rack and creative supply unit, ample storage and washable smocks.
“Every child that enters the WGAC isn’t necessarily meant to be a fine artist, but early childhood education with art helps children learn how to recognize symbols, gets their hands ready for writing, helps them learn how to use scissors and gives them three-dimensional training,” said Cannon. “The more you exercise your brain in the different areas, the stronger you get. If kids can’t get that through school because of budget cuts, they need to get it somewhere, and we’re happy to be that place.
“It’s really taken a lot of people working hard to make this happen,” she said. “We started our fund-raising campaign in December 2008 … the same week that the stock market crashed … and we were thinking, ‘This is hopeless.’ Our move out of the mall drained our bank account down to $80 and all this seemed impossible. Had it not been for the generosity of the community, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Saturday’s festivities will include a “Just for Kids” event from noon-3 p.m. where kids can take a tour of the new center, enjoy a piece of cake and participate in art activities. For a $25 donation, children and adults can decorate a tile for permanent installation in the art studio. That evening from 7-9 p.m. there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and premier of the new Barresi Financial Art Gallery featuring artwork by Tim Gagnon of Castle Hill. Light refreshments will be served. A donor recognition party will be held at a later date.
For more information on the Wintergreen Arts Center, log onto wintergreenarts.org or call 762-3576.
